Days Mill and Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Day's Mill & Farm |
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Day's Mill & Farm
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| General information | |
| Location | Day Road, Murchison South, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 36°40′37″S 145°12′19″E / 36.677082°S 145.205354°E |
| Construction started | 1865 |
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Days Mill and Farm is a special historic place in Murchison South, Victoria, Australia. It has an old flour mill that used steam power, a farm, and a family home. William and Anne Day built it in 1865. This mill is the best-preserved 19th-century flour mill in Victoria. It's like a time capsule showing how things were long ago.
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Where is Day's Mill Located?
The mill and farm are part of an original 170-hectare (420-acre) property. It is located near the Goulburn River on Days Road. This area is in Murchison South, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Melbourne. Today, the historic part of the property is about 4 hectares (10 acres). The land around it has been sold to other owners.
The History of Day's Mill
Building the Mill in 1865
In 1865, William Day chose about 170 hectares (420 acres) of land in Murchison. He saw that more people were farming in the area. So, he decided to build a two-story flour mill. William also ran a sawmill in the bush. He even operated a boat (punt) to cross the Goulburn River. His wife, Anne Day, managed a local store.
Anne Day's Leadership (1872-1891)
William Day passed away in 1872 after an accident. Anne was left to care for their seven children. They were aged 5 to 19 years old. William's property was worth a lot of money, so Anne had resources. From 1872 to 1891, Anne Day ran the farm and mill very well. During these years, their farm was one of the most advanced in the area.
Letters from that time show Anne was a strong woman. She managed the business skillfully in a world mostly run by men. Her letters talk about selling flour in Melbourne. She also wrote about getting good prices for her farm products.
Why the Mill Stopped Working
In the 1870s, new technology changed flour milling. Old stone mills were not good for the hard grains grown in Australia. Iron roller mills were developed in Europe and the United States. These new machines were much better.
By the 1880s, Days Mill was not making much money. Trains could now bring flour from other mills. Mills in Melbourne also offered strong competition. The Day family did not buy the expensive new roller mills. So, they stopped milling flour in the late 1880s.
Anne Day retired from farming and storekeeping in 1891. Her eldest son, Joseph, took over the property. From then on, it was only used as a farm. Joseph sometimes ground chicken feed for his neighbors. In 1910, Joseph Day bought more land, adding another 130 hectares (320 acres).
What Day's Mill Looks Like Today
Today, the site still has many original 19th-century farming and milling tools. You approach the property along a drive lined with peppercorn and pine trees. There is a gatehouse at the entrance. The main building is a three-story brick mill from 1865. It has a later extension called a granary. Next to it is a two-story brick house. This house has a two-story porch (verandah) added around 1905.
The mill was powered by a rare steam engine made by E. T. Bellhouse. This engine used a Cornish boiler, and both are still there. Other buildings on the site include:
- A large stable
- A chaff shed (for animal feed)
- A blacksmith's shop
- A butchery
- A dairy
- A shearing shed
- A milking shed
- A piggery
- A chicken coop
These buildings are made from handmade bricks, timber, and corrugated iron. All the original mill machinery is still there. This includes three mill stones, grain elevators, a bolting reel (to separate flour), an air leg aspirator, and a sack hoist.
Protecting Day's Mill
Historians have known about this important mill for many years. It was first photographed as a historic site around 1966. The Victorian government bought the property in 1985. This was done through the Historic Buildings Council and the National Estate Grants Program.
Day's Mill is listed on the National Trust Register. It is also on the Victorian Heritage Register. Parks Victoria has managed the site since 1996. Recently, the mill and farm celebrated 150 years since the Day family first established it.
